Discover Cortes: Nature Adventures

With Bill Ophoff

The natural world is your classroom as you hike, kayak and sail amid the wild beauty of Cortes Island. Discover the flora and fauna of both land and sea along with local history and geological phenomena as you adventure forth with our knowledgeable, fun-loving naturalist. Explore ancient forests, sandy beaches, colourful tide pools, windswept bluffs, and a mysterious bog. Our lush temperate rainforest is home to a variety of wildlife including deer, raven and eagles.

Discover the magic of this island jewel as you:

Board 43-foot schooner Misty Isles for a half-day sail. Watch for orcas, humpback whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises, and dolphins while learning about the area’s history. Land on awe-inspiring Mitlenatch Island, home of the largest sea bird colony in the Salish Sea and known by naturalists as “the Galapagos of the Georgia Strait.” Follow trails through the early-summer wildflowers to the wildlife blinds, an opportunity to watch the nesting birds up close.

Kayak into the sunset with bald eagles and seals or paddle under the stars amidst the ‘fairydust’ of bioluminescence.

Join in Hollyhock’s famous oyster barbeque on the beach.

All levels of fitness and experience welcome. Just bring your spirit of adventure!

This program is limited to 12 participants.

Presenter

Bill Ophoff
Bill Ophoff has a background in geography and biology, is a naturalist world traveler, and has been Hollyhock’s resident naturalist for 20+ years. Read my blog on Hollyhock Talks Learn more about Bill Ophoff

Hollyhock sits on the traditional territories of the Klahoose, Tla’amin, Homalco Nations. We are committed to renewing our relationships with the First Nations peoples on whose territories we are guests.

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Hollyhock is a registered not-for-profit and relies on philanthropic support to help fund programming development, accessibility, and campus sustainability.